NDIS relief – but have we created a different disability lottery?
25/07/2012
Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement that South Australia will be one of three launch sites for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but remains concerned that instead of a postcode lottery, we’re implementing an age group lottery.
“After two years of lobbying for the introduction of a lifelong scheme for disabilities NDIS, I’m certainly pleased that South Australia has been included in the early roll out of an NDIS from July 2013,” says Ms Vincent.
“However, with only zero to five year olds included in the first year, then zero to 13 year olds in the second year, I’m concerned about what will happen to services for adolescents with disabilities once they reach 14 years of age.
“Just because someone turns 14, doesn’t mean they suddenly don’t need a wheelchair for their paraplegia, educational provision for their intellectual disability or behavioural support programs for their autism.
“I would hate to see our young people thrown into the wilderness after a year or two in an initial program. It could cause absolute chaos for young people and their families.
“I would urge the government to at least roll out the program to young South Australians up to and including 18 years of age, so people can remain in NDIS programs until they are transitioning out of school. This would be a more logical cohort to work with, and would provide certainty for families until their child reaches adulthood.
“I also feel this age category inclusion could be viewed as quite a cynical move by the state government – they’re giving with one hand to achieve a launch site, yet taking with the other by removing the service at an arbitrary age that does not relate to any logical life phase.
“As children and teenagers with disabilities are generally in educational programs during the day and live with their parents or guardians at night, the need for the state government to provide big ticket items such as accommodation or day options is removed.
“Despite the age lottery disappointment, I am very happy that South Australia might finally be at the forefront of something in disability after decades of languishing at the bottom of the disability services heap in this country,” said Ms Vincent.
